The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain itThe soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it

Such is the power of that Celestial Fire wherein they all burn, that it melts and mixes Souls in such an entire Union, that by Complacence and an intimate Joy, the Blessedness of all is, as it were, proper to every one; as if every one were placed in the Hearts of all, and all in the Heart of every one. If in the Church of the first-born Christians in the earthly Jerusalem, the Band of Charity was so strict that 'tis said, the Multitude of Believers were of one Heart, and one Soul; How much more intimate and inseparable is the Union of the Saints in Jerusalem above, where every one loves another as himself? 'Tis recorded of Alexander, that entering with Hephestion his Favourite, into the Pavilion of Darius his Mother, then his Prior, ⟨p. 52⟩she bowed to the Favourite, as having a greater appearance of Majesty, thinking him to be Alexander: but advised of her Error, she humbly begged his Pardon: To whom the generous King replied,¹ You did not err, Mother, this is also Alexander: Such was their Affection, that whoever was taken of them, the other was taken in him; the less ascending in the greater, without degrading the greater in the less. This is a Copy of the holy Love of the Blessed; but with the same difference, as between the Description of a Star with a Coal, and its Beauty in its proper Aspect. And where all is Love, all is Delight. O how do they enjoy and triumph in the Happiness of one another? With what an unimaginable Tenderness do they embrace? What Reciprocations of Endearments are between them? O their ravishing Conversation, and sweet Intercourse! for their Presence together in Heaven is not a silent Show. In the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah talked with Christ. With what excellent discourses do they entertain one another? If David felt such inward Pleasure from the sense of God's favours, that he could not restrain the ⟨p. 53⟩expression of it, but invites the Saints, Come and hear, all ye that fear the Lord, and, I will tell you what he has done for my Soul. Certainly in Heaven, the blessed with overflowing affections recount the Divine Benefits: the admirable Methods, whereby the Life of Grace was begun, preserved and carried on in the midst of Temptations; the continual Succession of Mercies in the time of their Hopes, and the Consummation of all in the time of their Enjoyment.